Andrew Jackson and Early Tennessee History, by Samuel Gorden Heiskell, Ambrose Printing Company, 1920
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p. 72, Incorporation of the City
"On October 27, 1815, the legislature incorporated the inhabitants of the town of Knoxville and on January 30, 1816, the first meeting of the Board of Aldermen was held at the courthouse. Under the act the
aldermen elected the Mayor from their number, and the first Board of Aldermen consisted of Thomas Emmerson, Thomas McCorry, Rufus Morgan, James Park, Thomas Humes, James Dardis, and John M. Cullen. Thomas Emmerson was elected Mayor, Anderson Hutchinson, Recorder, and David Nelson, High Constable, and John M. Cullen, Treasurer. Rufus Morgan, James Dardis, and Thomas Humes were appointed on
February 20, 1816, a committee to erect a markethouse, which they did, and the dimensions were 26 feet long, 18 feet wide, and the house was located on the present Main Street between Market and Walnut.
In January, 1839, an election was held for the election of a Mayor by popular vote, and W.B.A. Ramsey was winner, receiving 49 votes to 48 for James Park."
[What then follows is a list of early Mayors for Knoxville. Thomas Emmerson being elected January 1816 and Janurary 187, then James Park elected Jan 1818, Jan 1819, Jan 1820, Jan 1821, then William C.
Mynatt in Jan 1822 and Jan 1823, then James Park again on January 1824, Jan 1825, and finally Jan 1826, then William C. Mynatt elected again in Jan 1827.

pp. 338-339
"On April 15, 1809, William Herbert, of Alexandria, District of Columbia, as surviving executor of John Dunlap, deceased, gave power of attorney to John McIvor, of Alexandria, District of Columbia, to convey the four lots, and on February 20, 1812, John McIvor as attorney in fact, in consideration of $1,100.00 conveyed them to James Park. James Park was born in Balleighan, Manor Cunningham, Donegal County, Ireland, April 14, 1770, and came to the United States in 1796, and settled in Knoxville in March, 1798. He was a merchant, and was mayor of Knoxville from 1818 to 1821, and from 1824 to 1826. He died in Knoxville September 19, 1853, and the property purchased from John Sevier and his son descended to James Park, Jr., who is known to the citizens of Knoxville as Dr. James Park, now deceased. The coming of James Park from Ireland to Knoxville brought some of the best Scotch-Irish blood, and was the means of founding a family of the highest worth in Tennessee and the South. Descendants of Scotch-Irishman James Park are in many States of the Union, and, as a rule, they are Presbyterians and a high type of men and women; they have held in various States pbulic positions which argues the estimation of their fellow citizens.
James Park, Jr. - Dr. James Park - was born in the house he died in - the one John Sevier commenced to build - on September 18, 1822, and died July 14, 1912. He was one of the grand old men of Tennessee, whose memory is among the choicest possessions of everybody who knew him. He had in an eminent degree the Scotch-Irish characteristics, high integrity, fair-mindedness, respect for law, consideration of the rights of others, and devotion to family and friends. He was the old type of American citizen which seems to be passing away, and which will leave a void when the type is gone. Dr. Park had every personal virute that any other man ever had, and his life illustrates the strong, honorable, fearless, and upright citizen and gentleman. May his memory long survive!"